Don’t Shoot My Building, Owner Tells Bravo

LOS ANGELES (CN) – A property owner claims Bravo Media is profiting unjustly by falsely making it appear that its “distinctive” building on a “trendy” street in Venice, Calif., “is the office and headquarters of the television reality show, ‘The Millionaire Matchmaker’ when it is not.” Abbot Kinney Partners seeks punitive damages and an injunction.

Abbot Kinney also sued Green Bottle Pictures, which produces the show, and Patti Stanger, the show’s “executive producer, star and lead character.” Abbot Kinney alleges unjust enrichment, slander of title, trade libel, private nuisance, unfair competition and violation of the Business Code. Abbot Kinney claims its “multimillion-dollar, two-story, mixed-use building located in a prime area of Venice on trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard … is quite unique [sic] and distinctive in its architectural design.” The building is solely owned by a man who lives there with his daughter, and rents out the ground floor, according to the Superior Court complaint. He’s never rented any space to the defendants or to “The Millionaire Matchmaker.” “Defendants have absolutely no association with the building,” the complaint states. “Without plaintiff’s consent and without compensating plaintiff in any way, defendants are wrongfully profiting from plaintiff’s building. Defendants’ wrongful actions should be enjoined. Plaintiff should be compensated for the unauthorized use of the building, and punitive damages should be awarded against defendants for their intentional and bad faith misappropriation.” Abbot Kinney is represented by Theresa Macellaro of Venice.